.com When the London Suede's original guitarist, Bernard Butler, quit the band in 1994, Anglophiles from coast to coast breathed a disconsolate sigh. Butler had played with passion and power, crafting sweeping rhythms that perfectly complemented frontman Brett Anderson's melodramatic vocals. How could the group ever find a suitable replacement? Well, they did the following year when Richard Oakes joined, and between then and now Oakes has grown into a dynamic, swaggering, and sensual musician, imbuing Head Music with a sleazy, vibrant energy. Like the band's 1996 disc, Coming Up, the album brims with glammy incandescence. Songs such as "Electricity," "Elephant Man," and "Head Music" couple thrusting beats and sweaty riffs with yelping vocals and lascivious lyrics ("She's shaking obscene like a fucking machine"). But the Suede also believe in candlelight and satin, as they prove on the more romantic fare of "Everything Will Flow," which glides along with mellifluous strings and delicate guitar lines, and the enigmatic "She's in Fashion," which writhes with bubbling guitars and sultry keyboards. --Jon Wiederhorn
J**K
electric suede
3 stars for the album and add one star for she's in fashion. electric sound and melody combine together in She's in Fashion.
K**E
Somewhere out there there`s a melody, but you feel like nowhere man in nowhere land when the CD end.
Suede. Well. At it best`s it sound`s ok, but there`s too many weak tracks to make this a winner. Track 6 is a winner, but there are two many up`s and down`s before that. So, let`s go.Track 1 Electricty, spark`s some electricity.It has vibes in that department somewhere, and it`s not a catastrophy. A good opener which spark`s, yes some electricity. Track 2 Savoir Faire as a "honky tonk rythmic" opening, but then when the refrain kicks in, it doesn`t sounds good at all. Track 3 Can`t get enough. Well, we can. This is just a mess, and your`e glad it`s over. Noicy "porman`s" heavy metal light music, but somwhere in there, it`s a melody who want`s to creep out.Track 4 Everything will flow has an oriental japaneze beginning, and is quite ok with it`s slowmoving atmosphere all trough. Quite good. Track 5 Down, has a "blip blop" computers`k atmosphere, but never kicks off the ground.The vocal sound`s like "poormanns David Bowie" on speed.Track 6 Fashion has outstanding qualities when you compare it with the other song`s on this CD. It`s very humming, and right to the point when it come`s to a good pop tune. It works in every department, and it`s a 5 star inbetween a more or less "bloodpooring" music. Track 7 Asbestos. Well, we are back in the slowmoving "muddy music genre". Track 8. Head music is synth rock and roll, with that dreadfull "heavy synth metal fuzz" on the guitar. Not music for my head, so to say. Track 9 Elephant man, it`s quite ok, and moves on, but has a irritated "tin can" vocal all trough. Track 10 Hi Fi, it`s called. Well, try to test it on your`ehi fi, and the hi fidelty feel is not there,...yet. Track 11 Indian strings, has a good bassplay, and the rythmicsection is quite interesting. One of the better one `s. Track 12 He`s gone, is not too bad. Simpel and effective, but when it`s gone, it`s gone. Track 13 Crack in the union jack sounds like "poormans" David Bowie singin` ballads. At the end you know there`s many fine themes and melodies out there, but you feel very confused, like nowhere man in nowhere land.
K**M
"Head Music" will be fresh and edgy for many years to come
Suede's 1999 album "Head Music", I feel is Suede's all around best album. It is full of "monster stomper" rock songs if I can borrow that line from another review that I have read, glammy sleazy songs, and some really beautiful ballads.Brett's vocals are super top notch. He has even more range than on the previous album from 1996 "Coming Up". Brett is a master of describing people and locations and allowing the listeners to see all the sleaze, grit, glam, and beauty of his world.I have to point out my favorite songs. First of all is the ultra sleazy, ultra groovy "hi-fi". I love Brett's vocals, lyrics, and the cool keyboards or bassline that is on that song. I also think "indian strings" is a really great, beautiful song. A cool bassline, really cool clean acoustic or electric guitar, and heart felt lyrics and vocals by Brett. "electricity" the opening track is really cool too. Brett's has cool echoing vocals, a strong chorus, cool lyrics, and cool guitar throughout."savoir faire" is a song that I really liked after repeat listening. At first I was not that big on it. However, the chorus is really catchy. Actually there are like 2 choruses. Then about half way through Richard Oakes's guitar really kicks in and makes the song really rock. "can't get enough", was really good and had a cool chorus, catchy woo hoo lyrics, and cool guitar throughout. "everything will flow" is a really beautiful song with clean acoustic or electric guitar and upbeat lyrics at least to me."asbestos" was another sleazy, groovy song that I liked a lot. "head music" was a cool song with the lyrics, "give me head, give me head, give me head music instead." Pretty cool lyrics! The guitar is also good. "elephant man" is a good monster stomper and a real rock song that sounds like Brett is singing muffled and this is the first song where the music seems to be louder and more prevalent than Brett's voice.Brett's voice is incredible throughout this album. In "Coming Up" it was very good, sort of Bowie-ish with much more high ranges. However, I feel in "Head Music" that Brett has really reached perfection with his vocal abilities. It is still Bowie-ish but with so much range. Check out the latest album "A New Morning" where Brett has actually developed his own signing style not reminiscent to me of anyone else.Richard Oakes's guitars are very good. He is an excellent guitarist and seems to be able to play perfectly with the mood and vocals that Brett has created for each song.Mat Osman's bass and Simon Gilbert's drums are very good also. They add a lot of the glammy, sleazy, funky, and rock moods to the songs.Neil Coding's keyboards are much more prevalent in this album than "Coming Up", and I love synth mixed with guitar and it works very well on the songs in this album.It's about 4 yrs later and I am listening to this cd daily. I think Suede produces music that is edgy and a breakthrough way before its time. Therefore, listening to this album 10 years later it will still sound current. I highly recommend this album along with "Coming Up", "A New Morning", and "SCI-FI Lullabies".I have to recommend "Head Music" the most because it seems to encompass the most genres of music into a single cd out of all of the Suede albums.
A**R
Not their best, but better than most
Suede's fourth album is a difficult proposition. I mean, what do you do when you've already released the two best albums of the 90s (Suede and Dogmanstar) and are following on the heels of a tremendous commercial success?The answer, apparently, is to do whatever they please. Head Music is a departure sonically but merely a consolidation of strengths coupled with some un-Suedelike tracks.But it is surprising how much of it works: Electricity is a catchy pop number, Can't Get Enough is a stomper, Down is one of their more beautiful slowies, and She's in Fashion is absolutely gorgeous. Head Music, the track, is hilarious, and Elephant Man is also just a bit of fun.I think a lot of the negative comments about this release stem from certain people wanting the band to stay the same, never change their sound or style. That will never happen with Suede. Artists will try different colors.Negatives: Brett really dropped the ball on some of the lyrics, which is disappointing when compared to the obvious crafting he put into the first three albums (just listen to Beautiful Ones or Picnic by the Motorway off Coming Up). The album is overlong--I would drop Hi-Fi and Crack in the Union Jack. But that's nitpicking, now, isn't it?
W**R
Head Music - Great.
Just recently bought this, where was I when this was first released! What a great album - highlights being - Everything will flow, the single She's in Fashion and the timeless Indian Strings which has to be the best track on the album. Different to previous Suede albums and definitely more progressive.
